Motor-vehicle axle construction.



H. W. SNEDEN.

MOTOR VEHICLE AXLE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-27, 1912.

1,149,995. I Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Gig. 1.

ammo sures OFFICE.

HERMAN w. snnnnn, or mmoiv m3, IIOHIGAN.

moron-Vernon nxnneousrnucncnz & v r Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed August 27, 191:. in. 717,889.

To all whom it may concern:

known that I, HERMAN W. SNEnnN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Byron Center, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Motor- Vehicle Axle Construction, of which the following is a specification.

is inventioii relates'to certain novel and useful imprbvementsin running gear. construction and has particular application to a construction of forward axle for motor Vehicles whereby power may beapplied to the steering wheels of the vehicle.

the present invention, it provide a construction of forward axle for motor vehicles which will be constructed in-such manner that the .entrance of dust, dirt and other foreign matter to the movable parts of theaxlewill be entirely eliminated. I

It is also-my purpose to provide a device In carrying out is nty purpose to of the class described which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, eiliciency and durability coupled with cheapness of cost in manufacture and .marketing and which may be applied to any type of motor vehicle now in use.

Furthermore, I aim tdprovide' a construction of forward axle for motor vehicles whereby power may be applied to the steer ing wheels of the vehicle and wherein the steering connections between the wheel spindie and the axle will cooperate with the universally movable connection between such wheel spindle and the driving shaft to present a universal joint and hold the parts as? seinlilcd.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional,- view through a vehicle axle constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts ing shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the stationary boxing or sleeve surroundiiig the wheel spindle. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of'the pivot block, and Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a guard used in conjunction with the boxing orsleeve.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the-humeral lindieates the driving shaft connected up in any suit- .the slot-ted limbs of nection, formed propelling motor of the end of the dri'vingshaft construction to the other the connections between the able manner to the vehicle. 1 As each 1 is identiealrin end. and as wheel hub andthe axle are the same at each end of the latter, a description and showmg of one end otthe axle is deemed su'fiicient for the 'purposes of this inventions Each and of the driving shaft 1 is equipped with a'yoke 2 having the limbs thereof slotted, while coaxial with the respective end of the driving shaft is a spindle 3 equ' ped at its inner end with a yoke 4 dispo d at right angles to the plane of the yoke on the shaft 1 and having the limbs thereof slotted as at 5. Interposed between the limbs of the yokes 2 and 4 is a pivot block 6 provided with pairs of pivot pins 7, the pins of each pair being coaxial with each other and intersecting the pins of the other pair at right angles and are disposed within the yokes, thereby provldlng auniversally movable connection between thev spindle and driving shaft. Surroundingthe spindle 3 and of less length than the latter is a stationary sleeve or boxing 8 provided at one end with diametrically opposed outwardly extending arms 9, 9 each having a threaded bore 10 in the free end thereof, while encircling the driving shaft 1 is an axle sleeve 11 carrying, adjacent to the arms 9, 9, a yoke 12.

apertures designed to register with the bores 10 in the arms 9, 9 and through these registcring apertures and bores is passed a headed pivot pin 13. Formed in the inner wall of the sleeve or boxing 8 at the inner endthereof is an annular groove 14, and formed on the spindle ii are collars 15, 15 suitably spaced apart and disposed within the groove 14 and cooperating with the wall of said groove to form race ways for the reception of anti-friction bearings 16," while the. boxing at its with an annular groove 17 cooperating with the adjacent portion ofthe spindle to form a race way for anti-friction bearings 18.

'lly means of the construction just de* scribed, it will be seen that the steering couby the arms 9, 9 and the limbs of the yoke'12, between the spindle 3 and the driving shaft 1 serves to hold the parts'of the universal connection between atented Aug. 3,1915.

opposite end is provided the adjacent ends of the spindle and drivsuch parts to present a universal joint, while the anti-friction bearings'lti, 16 prevent inward movement of the boxing on the spindle therebyinsuring the spindle and boxing against relative lateral movement in the swingingthereof. v,

In order to prevent dirt, dust and other of thesocket, I mount Within the latter,

ing may move freely in the steering of the vehicle.' Extending outwardly .from the hollow ball-21 isathreaded'nipple 22 thread-. ed into the adjacent 'end'of the. axle sleeve 11 and surrounding the driving shaftpl,

with an inwardly exten the free end .of the nigple 22 coiiperating1 '1,

rug-ring 23 forme Y in-the axle sleeve llto form a'race way for anti-frictionbearings 24; Thus, it. will be seen that, the connection between the spindle and 'drivingslia'ft is' effectively protected against the entrance of 1 foreign matter; 7 '7 The free end of the spindle'3is preferably tapered as at 25 and thence extended outwardlyin the form of a threaded shank 26 v and such tapered-portion ofthe spindle is disposed within a correspondingly shaped opening in the endplate 27 ofa, wheel hub 28, a nut 29 being threadedopto the shank .26 and engaged with the endplate 27 ofthe wheel hub to hold the-latter uponit heboxing or sleeve 8. Th'ejend plate '27, concentrically ;of the adjacent extremity of the spindle 3,'is preferably formed to provide a, -threaded extension 30- to receive a cover ."plate 31, the latter incasingthe nut 29 and the threadedshank 26 of the spindle.

It will be noted that the anti-friction bearings 17 bear agaln'st the adjacent por- -no of the end plate 27 of the wheeli-hub and so act as thrust bearings to eliminate v p readily apparent. what may-be ternied, a hollow ball 21- fde-a signed to inclose the connection between the spindle and driving shaftand fitted within the socket 19 in such manner that ,theiboxfriction between the free end of the boxing 8 and the inner wall of the and plate 27., An annular flange 32 is preferably formed on the outer surface of the boxing 8 at the juncture of the latter with the arms 9 and ,such flangefis designed to receive the inner open end of the hub 28 and coiiperates with "way for roller bearings or other anti-friction bearings r From the foregoing description. taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing,

the opposite portion of the inner f aceof the, end plate 27 and the confronting ,faces,-,, of the wheel hub and boxing -to form a race" the construction mode of operation and I manner of assembling my invention will,be' It will be seen that I have "provided a construction of forward axle-forniotor vehicles whereby power may be applied 'to the steering wheels of the -vehide and wherein. the universally movable- -connection between the meetingends of the andvother foreign matter. I

' :I claim: v i

In coinbinationga driving shaft, a spindle coaxial with said driving, shaft, a universal connection between said spindle and shaft, a

boxing surrounding said spindle,-a sleeve' axle surroundin sai'd drive shaft and hav r ing an intenna l'y threaded inner end, a

tected against the entrance of dust, dirt' driving shaft and wheel spindle are proring formed interiorly ofv the sleeve axle and in adjacent relation to its internally threaded end, a hollow ball provided with an outwardly extended threaded nipple and adapted to threadedlyengage with the internally threadedend of said sleeve axlev 'andvterminating in spaced relation to said ring to form a raceway, the said hollow ball forming a guard for said universal connection, the inner end of said boxin being provided with a socket for receiving the hollow ball, and a guard embracing the hollow ball and secured to the end wall of the inner end of the socket and providing a con tinuationof the same.

inpresence of two witnesses. y

HERMAN W. SN EDEN. VVitnesses: l E. PALMER,

v I BENNETT S.- 'JoNEs.

v v I k In testimony whereofI-aflix my signature 

